Fairport rally ends Corning boys' season in NYSPHSAA Class AAA semis
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The deepest run in Corning Hawks boys basketball history came to a close Friday, March 20 in large part because of a significant in-game run by Fairport at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.
Section 5 titlist Fairport went on a 35-11 surge that extended from the second quarter into the third before holding off the Hawks' own comeback effort in a 79-72 win in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AAA semifinal.
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Corning faced a 68-60 hole midway through the final quarter and closed within three. A backdoor layup from Fairport's Alex Grejda produced a five-point advantage with 30 seconds left.
The Hawks finished with a 21-2 record and made their first appearance in a state final four.
"We had our chances," Corning head coach Mike Johnston Jr. said. "We were ahead, we blew a lead early. We started turning the ball over a little bit, not stepping to meet passes, fundamentals. Missed some free throws down the stretch that would have cut the margin.
"I think it was a well-played game by both teams. Really proud of my guys."
Fairport (23-1) secured a spot in the championship game against Albany Christian Brothers Academy, a 68-48 winner over Mamoreneck in Friday's second semifinal.
The title tilt is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Visions Arena.
Fairport stars of the game
Grejda scored 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting to lead five Red Raiders who scored in double figures. Hadi Dergham scored 16 points, Noah Meabon 13, Jon Roessel 11, and Sam Roselli 10.
Grejda grabbed 13 rebounds and Meabon had 10. The 6-foot-4 Meabon has committed to play volleyball at the University of Southern California as an outside hitter.
Fairport's size advantage helped produce a 35-14 rebounding advantage and was a factor in the Hawks' 18 turnovers, many of which came against Fairport's full-court press and traps. Fairport had 15 offensive rebounds while Corning had one.
"The turnovers were huge and there were multiple turnovers multiple possessions in a row," Johnston said.
Corning stars of the game
The Proudfoot brothers, Carter and Nolyn, each scored 20 points to pace Corning. Carter, who had 6 steals, went 8-for-13 from the field and 4-for-8 from 3-point range. Nolyn grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds.
Kyler Stevenson added 12 points and 4 assists for Corning before fouling out with 4:09 remaining.
Kohl Hogue contributed 12 points. Teigen Gill scored 8 points, including a pair of corner 3-pointers in the first half.
Corning led 36-17 in the second quarter before Fairport started creating turnovers while closing within 42-39 at halftime.
"We were making shots," Johnston said. "We came out with a lot of energy, we got some stops early and we could spread the margin.
"We talk about this all the time, that basketball is a game of spurts. You’re going to go on runs unless the other team is just not any good. We know when you get to this level there’s four teams that can all play basketball."
Nolyn Proudfoot, a 30 points-per-game scorer this season, ended his sophomore season with more than 1,750 career points and Johnston said there is no question he will become Section 4's career scoring leader by the time he finishes at Corning. Former Tioga Central star Jim Ryder is No. 1 with 2,238 points.
Key moments
Corning closed within 72-68 on a Carter Proudfoot 3-pointer with 2:41 remaining.
Dergham went 1-for-2 at the line and Meabon scored on a put-back for a 75-68 advantage. Another Carter Proudfoot 3-pointer and a 1-for-2 trip to the line for Hogue brought the Hawks within 75-72 before Grejda's sealing bucket.
"Our kids are resilient. I knew they were going to keep fighting — all year long," Johnston said.
Reflecting on graduating seniors
Among Corning's graduating seniors are starters Stevenson and Gill. Stevenson is headed to Plattsburgh State to play Division III basketball and Gill ranks among the top of Corning's senior class.
"They’ve been a staple of our program for a long time," Johnston said. "Both of them have been up on varsity since 10th grade either starting or first guy off the bench. They’re competitors. Really proud of them."
A shared moment between coaches
A smiling Johnston shared an embrace and a few words after the game with Fairport head coach Scott Fitch, the 1994 NCAA Division III Player of the Year at Geneseo State. The coaches got to know each other from a regular-season game between their teams and a hoops clinic.
The court at Fairport is named Coach Fitch Court after it was originally dedicated as Jeff Fitch Court in honor of Scott's dad, who coached Fairport to 459 victories. Johnston's dad coached Elmira Notre Dame to a state title in 1978.
"I have a lot of admiration for both of them and their family," Johnston said. "It’s a neat little thing where I played for my dad and have a lot of respect for him and his accomplishments and what he did at the high school level. I know Scott feels the same about his dad, Jeff, as well."
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Recap of Fairport's victory over Corning in NYSPHSAA boys hoops semis